Abstract:

To investigate the effects of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation on intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior chamber depth in patients with cataract or cataract combined with angle closure glaucoma. Methods361 patients (481 eyes) with senile cataract (cataract group) and 44 patients (52 eyes) with cataract combined with angle closure glaucoma (cataract with glaucoma group) accepted phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation from July 2005 to May 2007, and were followed up for 325 months. ResultsThere was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative IOP (t=9.270,P＜0.01)　in the cataract group, and the preoperative IOP was 14.86±3.79?mmHg and the postoperative IOP was 12.56±3.43?mmHg; there was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative IOP （t=3.29,P＜0.01） in the cataract with glaucoma group, and the preoperative IOP was 19.92±3.76?mmHg and the postoperative IOP was 16.52±3.15?mmHg; there was no significant difference in preoperative IOP （t=-2.437，P＞0.05）and the IOP 3 months after operation （t＝2.154，P＞0.05）between the two groups. There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative depths of the anterior chamber（t=7.781，P＜0.01） in the cataract group, and the preoperative depth of the anterior chamber was 2.28±0.32?mm and the postoperative depth of the anterior chamber was 3.04±0.39?mm; there was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative depths of the anterior chamber（t=4.528，P＜0.01）in the cataract with glaucoma group and the preoperative depth of the anterior chamber was 1.69±0.35?mm and the postoperative depth of the anterior chamber was 2.82±0.41?mm; there was a significant difference between the two groups in the preoperative depth of the anterior chamber （t=8.325,P＜0.01）and no significant difference after operation（t=2.86,P＞0.05）. ConclusionPhacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation are effective in curing cataract and decreasing IOP. If the IOP of patients with cataracts and glaucoma was controlled to normal preoperatively, the antiglaucoma medication was no longer needed after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.